Nikki Reed

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Nikki Reed
Born May 17, 1988 (1988-05-17) (age 20)
West Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active 2003-present

Nicole Houston "Nikki" Reed[1] (born May 17, 1988[2]) is an American film actress and screenwriter. She became known in 2003, after the release of the film Thirteen, and has since appeared in several films, including Lords of Dogtown and Mini's First Time. She will also portray Rosalie Hale in the upcoming film adaptation of the book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Reed was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Cheryl Houston, a hairdresser, and Seth Reed, a set designer. She has an older brother, Nathan. Reed's father is Jewish and her mother is of Cherokee and Italian descent; Reed was raised without religion[3] though grew up around Judaism (her brother had a Bar Mitzvah).[4][5]

Reed has described her home life as "complicated". She attended Palms Middle School. Her parents divorced when she was two, and she grew up with her mother.[6] At the age of fourteen, Reed moved out and began living on her own. She has since noted that during this time, she "grew up very fast," was "mature and responsible", as well as a "shy kid" and a "bookworm", who experimented thoroughly with drugs, alcohol, and sex. She had no specific desire to become an actress.

[edit] Career

Reed and director Catherine Hardwicke finished the script for the semi-biographical film, Thirteen, in six days, a relatively fast time for a Hollywood script to be written. Producers asked Reed to play a role in the film because they had trouble casting it, considering it an "uncomfortable" role for most young actresses.[6] The film, starring Evan Rachel Wood, was released in 2003 to glowing reviews, giving Reed recognition in Hollywood as both an actress and a screenwriter. Following the film's release, Reed also appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and hosted a number of award shows, including the Young Hollywood Awards (2003), and the Independent Spirits Awards Nomination Show, followed by the West Independent Spirits Awards, both in 2004.

Reed has continued to participate in racy roles that involve the portrayal of sexually promiscuous teenagers, including Lords of Dogtown, also directed by Hardwicke. In early 2006, she appeared on the series The O.C., playing Sadie, a new love interest for the character Ryan Atwood. Reed has noted that she disagrees with what she describes as the "trendy and shallow things" that The O.C. promotes, and that she appeared in the series only on the advice of her agents.[7]

Her most recent film role is in Mini's First Time, which received a limited release in the United States on July 14, 2006. In the film, Reed plays a teenager who, through seduction, involves her stepfather in a plot to murder her mother. Reed has noted that her character does not "understand the weight of consequence", and that she enjoyed playing someone who she describes as "crass" and having a "trucker's mouth".[7] Reed's character participates in explicit sex scenes, which had to be filmed from the point of view of Reed's back, as she was sixteen at the time and thus legally unable to film her scenes in a more explicit manner.[6]

Reed has written another script set in New Zealand between the 1960s and the 1980s. Reed has noted that she feels she is a versatile actress, but feels typecast in roles of "sexy bad girls," noting that producers often tell her that she is too "sexy" for a particular part.[6]

On February 12, 2008, it was announced that Reed would be portraying Rosalie Hale in the movie version of Twilight, which is also being directed by Catherine Hardwicke.

[edit] Personal life

After Thirteen's success, Reed returned to her Los Angeles high school, but dropped out again after a year. She cited her experiences, involving "mothers [who] were sneaking into the school at lunchtime to confront and harass me about the film" as the reason for her departure.[6] Reed was subsequently home-schooled, and eventually received her high school diploma.[6] Reed divides her time between New York City and Los Angeles.[6]

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Thirteen Evie Zamora
2005 Man of God Zane Berg
Lords of Dogtown Kathy Alva
American Gun Tally limited release
2006 The O.C. Sadie Campbell television guest role
Mini's First Time Mini limited release
Justice Molly Larusa television guest role
2007 Cherry Crush Shay Bettencourt
Reaper Andi un-aired pilot only
2008 Privileged Lauren Carrington awaiting release
Familiar Strangers Allison awaiting release
Chain Letter TBA post-production
Twilight Rosalie Hale post-production

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Nicole Houston Reed" is her full name, according to the State of California. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. At Ancestry.com
  2. ^ Reed was born on May 17th, rather than January 17th, according to the State of California. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. At Ancestry.com
  3. ^ Film: What Nikki did next; Nikki Reed shot to fame thanks to the teen expose Thirteen. She tells GEOFFREY MACNAB about the highs and lows that followed.(Features) - The Independent (London, England) - HighBeam Research
  4. ^ Jewish News Weekly. Celebrity Jews. Retrieved on May 3, 2006.
  5. ^ the Jewish Exponent. 13 - AND COUNTING; From bimah to bemoaning just about everything...why this overnight change in kids?. Retrieved on July 21, 2006.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Khaleej Times. Mini Mayhem. Retrieved on July 22, 2006.
  7. ^ a b Reed and Guthe on Mini's First Time - ComingSoon.net

[edit] External links